Skip to main content

THE 9-YEAR-OLD INDIAN TAKES AMERICA BY SURPRISE!


Lets congratulate Tanishq for making India proud with his super intelligence. He took entire America by surprise when he was tested for extraordinary intelligence and scored 99.9 percentile. At 7, he gave lectures to students who were twice of his age. Today, he is only 9 and already completed one third of the credits needed for a college degree at the American River College in Sacramento, California. Tanishq is born to mother Dr Taji and father Bijou Abraham, speaks his mother tongue Malayalam at home and wants to become a scientist.

We wish you a bright future ahead, Tanishq!!! Tanishq attracted intense media attention after he joined the Mensa programme for gifted children at the age of four-and-half years. He was recently featured on the premiere episode of Prodigies, a new bi-weekly YouTube series showcasing the youngest and brightest as they challenge themselves to reach new heights. I like particle physics, anti-matter, the fate of the universe and the Big Bang, he said in the video. It got a quarter million hits and lots of media publicity, both good and bad, according to his mother Dr Taji Abraham, a doctor of veterinary medicine. His father Bijou Abraham is a software professional.

In the last two years since Tanishq started to attend college, he finished two subjects each semester. More subjects are not allowed. He has already completed astronomy, geology, and biotechnology. He sits with students twice his age and earns straight As in all subjects. He topped the class in astronomy and geology. Of the 60 units needed for an associate degree, he has completed 24 so far.

Initially the students thought I am the student and Tanishq came with me, Taji said. When they knew that Tanishq was the student, they were surprised and curious. When some of the videos not fit for children to watch are shown in classes, she will ask him to close his eyes. Tanishq tapes the lectures as he is not good at writing by hand. He told India Abroad that while writing essays was most difficult, typing is no problem.

The media is not always kind, Taji said. A recent New York Times article criticised her, asking why she was letting him take on such an academic load. Others said that children ought not to be in college. We dont mind the criticism, Taji said. We are parents and we should take care of our children. We know their needs. He is happy going to college and studying there.The parents saw their childrens special skills when they were about two-and-a-half years old.

At age 4.5, Tanishq was tested, and he scored in the 99.9 percentile on the standardised intelligence test and was inducted into Mensa -- an organisation for people with an IQ of 148 and above, or in the top two per cent of the population. Hes a real asset, Professor Stephen Sterling, Tanishqs physical geology instructor, was quoted as saying. Hes the top student. The students love him and look up to him because they respect him (as they would) a peer.

According to Dr Paulo Alfonso, another professor who taught astronomy and who is also in the video, He ended up in the class being the student with the highest grade. How many people at the age of seven or eight can discuss the expansion of the universe? He is different in a positive way. Tanishq is at the middle school level though he and his sister have been home-schooled. Their parents teach them and once a month the charter school officials come and check the status. The children do not want to go to school with other children.

They tried it earlier, but found that neither other students nor teachers were kind to them. Home-schooling has not affected their social skills, Taji said, adding that she spends all her time with the children. Both children know Hindi and watch Hindi movies frequently. To their surprise, Tanishq knows his mother tongue, Malayalam, though they have not taught him nor use it frequently at home. Tanishq wants to be many things, though the preference is for being a scientist, discovering something big.



ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. At age of 2, Tanishq could count from 1-100

2. At age of 4-1/2 he scored in the 99.9 percentile on the standardized intelligence test and inducted into Mensa

3. Skipped first grade to perform 4th and 5th grade math

4. Admitted to American River College at age of 8 - youngest student ever at school

5. Occasionally gives guest lectures to college classmates Performs in the San Francisco Boys Chorus

6. Sang the National Anthem at the San Francisco Giants and Oakland As games

7. Sister Tiara, 6, is in MENSA too scoring in the 98.8 percentile

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Praying in a Jungle

I want to relate an event which happened nearly 10 years ago. I was 9 at that time, still a small child back then. It happened in a village in Alibaug a place in Maharashtra in India during the summer holidays. We (my mom and me) were at the beach for quite some time when we decided to go back. Normally, after walking for about 10 minutes, we would reach the hotel. My mom asked her friend where our sandals were (we were still at the beach). Her friend pointed in some direction, and my mom then went there. However, soon mom realised we were lost. We were now in a quite a big jungle. And since it was noon, the ground was quite hot and my mom had to carry me. I was scared. I didn’t understand then, our plight, mom was in a big jungle with her 9-year-old kid and completely lost. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. So I began to pray. As a child, the only prayer I knew was “Our Father” and “God Our Protector” (Psalms 92). I don’t remember which of the two I prayed, but I...

Educational Jokes

Physics Teacher: “Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell on his head and he discovered gravity. Isn’t that wonderful?” Student: “Yes sir, if he had been sitting in class looking at books like us, he wouldn’t have discovered anything.” Two factory workers talking: Woman: “I can make the boss give me the day off.” Man: “And how would you do that?” Woman: “Just wait and see.” She then hangs upside-down from the ceiling. Boss comes in: “What are you doing?” Woman: “I’m a light bulb.” Boss: “You’ve been working so much that you’ve gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off.” The man starts to follow her and the boss says: “Where are you going?” The man says: “I’m going home, too. I can’t work in the dark.” A man talking to God: The man: “God, how long is a million years?” God: “To me, it’s about a minute.” The man: “God, how much is a million dollars?” God: “To me it’s a penny.” The man: “God, may I have a penny?” God: “Wait a minute.” A little g...

Teacher and Student Funny Conversation..

Teacher: Change this sentence into Future Tense, "I killed a person" Student: The Future tense is "You will go to a jail" Teacher: Did u make this poem yourself?? Student: Yes Sir ! Teacher: Nice to meet you, William Shakespeare Teacher: Which one is more important for us, Son or Moon? Student: Ofcourse Moon Teacher: Why?? Students: The moon gives us light in night when we need it BUT the sun gives us light in day when we don't need it.. Teacher : What will you do after growing up? Student : Facebooking Teacher : No! I mean what will you Become? Student : Admin of Facebook pages Teacher : O My God! I Mean what will you Achieve when you grow up? Student : Facebook Admin Rights Teacher : Idiot! I Mean what will you do for you Parents ? Student : I create a page for them on FacebooK."I Luv Mom and Dad". Teacher : Stupid! What do you parents want from U? :@ Student : My Facebook password. Teacher : Oh God!